On April 22, 2024, the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a final rule enhancing privacy protections relating to reproductive health care. Specifically, the final rule amends the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to, among other things, establish new limits on the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI) relating to reproductive health care. Citing the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and its far-reaching implications for reproductive health care, the OCR asserts that the rule change is necessary in order to ensure, among other things, that individuals are not afraid to seek reproductive health care.
The compliance deadline for most of the new rule’s requirements is Dec. 23, 2024. Click below for more information.